Chapter 6 Not Like Nadia

• Nathan sat on his cozy armed chair, playing with a Rubik's Cube.
• While his sister was lying on her bed, flipping through a thick psychology book, one that was meant for adults, twirling a pen around her finger flawlessly like a pro.
• "So, Nathan," Natalie started. "What do you think of Lena?"
• Nathan didn't answer immediately.
• He focused on the cube, completing the first two layers in under ten seconds before finally muttering, "She's weird."
• Natalie nodded in agreement.
• "But weird isn't necessarily bad."
• Nathan frowned. "She doesn't talk."
• "She writes",Nadia countered.
• "That's inefficient."
• Nathan insisted.
• Nadia shrugged.
• "We can learn her sign language."
• "That's unnecessary and a waste of time," Nathan replied tightly.
• "It is not, Nathan! No knowledge is a waste of time," Natalie replied.
• Then she sighed loudly and rolled onto her stomach, resting her chin on her hands.
• "She saw right through us."
• Nathan's fingers paused on the Rubik's Cube.
• "Yeah, it seems like she knows exactly what we think, and that's suspicious."
• Natalie shook her head.
• "Or she's just smart."
• Nathan scoffed, "Not as smart as us."
• "Well, maybe not in the way we are. But intelligence isn't just about knowledge. It's about understanding things other people don't. She is still smart."
• Nathan mulled over that. He finally solved the Rubik's Cube, this time more slowly than his last time because of his sister's distraction.
• Displeased with his failure, he tossed the cube aside.
• He had solved it faster than 98 percent humans would, but that wasn't good enough for him.
• Natalie turned a page, then spoke without looking up.
• "Does she remind you of Nadia?"
• Nathan froze for half a second, but his expression remained the same.
• He took another cube to arrange before speaking.
• "They share the trait of red hair and certain facial proportions."
• "So, you do see it," Natalie replied.
• Nathan didn't say anything, he just continued twisting the cube faster.
• Natalie stretched and sighed.
• "Poor thing, Dad's gonna hate her."
• "Dad doesn't like anyone except maybe us, reason being we are his kids," Nathan replied.
• Natalie huffed a laugh. "True."
• There was a brief silence before Natalie suddenly sat up.
• "I like her."
• Nathan shot her a look, "That's fast."
• Natalie shrugged.
• "She's different. I mean she's not scared of us and she didn't treat us like problems to be fixed back there."
• Nathan thought about that.
• "Most nannies either leave or get frustrated easily.".
• He added.
• "Exactly." Natalie snapped, "but she didn't, she said she understands us. (Sighs) I just hope Dad can change for good and not hate her."
• Nathan rolled his eyes.
• "People don't change that easily, Natalie."
• "Unless they meet someone who forces them to,I believe."
• Natalie replied.
• Nathan gave a small, humorless scoff.
• "Not when she looks like her."
• "Just because two people look alike doesn't mean they are the same. That's a lazy conclusion. I know she's not like Nadia. She's not selfish."
• Nathan stared at the solved Rubik's Cube in his hand, his lips twitched in satisfaction.
• "That remains to be seen. We are yet to know the true her. And by the way, I just broke my Rubik's Cube record."
• "Congrats".
• Natalie replied.
• Neither of them mentioned Nadia again. There was no need to. They never called her mother, ever. To them, she is just a vessel who gave birth to them.
• Their father never mentioned her or said anything bad about her, but they have seen the news, the scandal, the blogs, and have gotten all the information online.
• Even when he had denied them gadgets, they hacked into his own personal computer and did the research.
• Their father being a celebrity made things easier.
• "Nadia........Father became a sadist because of her. I hate her," Natalie suddenly said out of nowhere, her lips trembling slightly, she flipped her book angrily.
• Nathan stole a glance at his sister but said nothing.
• --------------------------
• Skye stood outside the twins' bedroom with her hands clenched at her sides, repeating the words in her head like a mantra.
• "Keep them distracted. Keep them distracted."
• She wasn't supposed to be there.
• The other maids had gone off to ensure that Lena received the proper welcome, like they said. So they gave Skye one job: to make sure the twins were in their rooms, occupied, and not in the nanny's.
• Skye drew a deep breath and finally knocked on the door.
• Inside, the twins looked up in surprise.
• Natalie's brows lifted, and she exchanged a glance with Nathan.
• "Lena?" she guessed, but immediately dismissed it. "No, that wouldn't be logical. She doesn't know where our room is."
• Nathan shrugged.
• "Maybe she asked the maids," he muttered. "Anyway, I don't want her here now."
• "Well I do, brother," Natalie said and put her book down.
• Nathan glared at her.
• She got up from her bed and walked to the door. Getting there, she pulled it open, only for her face to fall in disappointment.
• "Oh. It's just you, Skye."
• Skye forced a chuckle, awkwardly.
• "Just me."
• Nathan raised his face, curiously.
• "Your job was done. The room is already arranged for our bedtime."
• "Yeah, I know," Skye replied and scratched her neck.
• Natalie crossed her arms.
• "So then, what do you want?"